Dr Katharine Orellana
Research Fellow
Biography
Katharine is a social gerontologist who gained 15 years’ experience in an organisation supporting older people before joining HSCWRU as an intern in 2013. From 2014-2018, she undertook a PhD investigating day centres for older people at King’s College London, with funding from The Dunhill Medical Trust’s Older People’s Care Initiative. Her thesis is on the role and purpose of day centres for older people. She then worked on the ‘Handover in care homes – residents’ and families’ perspectives’ study and the Alzheimer’s Society funded study Taking a break. Use of residential respite by people with dementia and carers: access, experiences, outcomes. She is currently involved in the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London Social Care theme programme of work.
Further information about Katharine, her research and activities and publications can be found on the research portal. Posts by Katharine on the Unit blog.
Katharine Orellana: ORCID iD
Research
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London: Social Care Theme
Researchers at HSCWRU are working on the Social Care theme as part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London.
Mapping And Community Engagement (MACE)
Focusing on day services in south London.
Project status: Completed
Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP)
We are co-producing research and development priorities for south London social care communities.
Project status: Ongoing
Helping day centres to 'unlock lockdown'
This July 2020 project aimed to support manager or voluntary co-ordinators and staff generally in care homes into the ‘new normal’ after the lockdown.
Project status: Completed
Taking a break. Use of residential respite by people with dementia and carers: Access, experience, outcomes
A two-year study funded by the Alzheimer's Society.
Project status: Completed
Strengths-based approaches in social care and community services
From October 2024 to March 2026, our work continues to focus on strengths-based approaches in social care and community services.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Dementia Community Research Network Engagement Event
The event included presentations by King's researchers
Recognizing the contribution of older people's day centres to prevention agendas
New article by Kritika Samsi and Katharine Orellana
New tool supports implementation research in social care
Unit researcher Antonina Semkina co-led development of new guide
ARC South London Social Care Theme at the Unit
Highlights from our programme of work, 2019-2024
Showcasing Day Centre Resources Hub to West Midlands commissioners
"...a wonderful resource for those commissioning and delivering day services..."
Day Centre Resources Hub launched
A practical tool for day centres and their professional stakeholders is now live
Expanding the concept of 'ageing in place' to include 'dying in place'
Professor Linda Yin-King Lee, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, visited the Unit
At the April Day Centre Research Forum
Ailsa Cameron and Catrin Noone discussed their day centre research projects at the Forum
At the Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology 2023
King's researchers were a strong presence at this year's conference at UEA
Exploring local adult social care evidence needs
Unit researchers a strong presence at an event that employed World Café methodology
Events
Day Centre Research Forum - April 2024
Day centres for older people
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum - June 2022
Service re-design: an in-depth case study
Please note: this event has passed.
Older People’s Health & Social Care Conference 2022
14th annual joint conference of NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Diverse day centre target users and programming.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Adapting day care services during COVID-19.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Social enterprise in adult day care. Gauging the quality of the care experience.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Outcomes for older people attending day centres.
Please note: this event has passed.
Research
NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South London: Social Care Theme
Researchers at HSCWRU are working on the Social Care theme as part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) South London.
Mapping And Community Engagement (MACE)
Focusing on day services in south London.
Project status: Completed
Setting And Responding to Priorities (SARP)
We are co-producing research and development priorities for south London social care communities.
Project status: Ongoing
Helping day centres to 'unlock lockdown'
This July 2020 project aimed to support manager or voluntary co-ordinators and staff generally in care homes into the ‘new normal’ after the lockdown.
Project status: Completed
Taking a break. Use of residential respite by people with dementia and carers: Access, experience, outcomes
A two-year study funded by the Alzheimer's Society.
Project status: Completed
Strengths-based approaches in social care and community services
From October 2024 to March 2026, our work continues to focus on strengths-based approaches in social care and community services.
Project status: Ongoing
News
Dementia Community Research Network Engagement Event
The event included presentations by King's researchers
Recognizing the contribution of older people's day centres to prevention agendas
New article by Kritika Samsi and Katharine Orellana
New tool supports implementation research in social care
Unit researcher Antonina Semkina co-led development of new guide
ARC South London Social Care Theme at the Unit
Highlights from our programme of work, 2019-2024
Showcasing Day Centre Resources Hub to West Midlands commissioners
"...a wonderful resource for those commissioning and delivering day services..."
Day Centre Resources Hub launched
A practical tool for day centres and their professional stakeholders is now live
Expanding the concept of 'ageing in place' to include 'dying in place'
Professor Linda Yin-King Lee, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, visited the Unit
At the April Day Centre Research Forum
Ailsa Cameron and Catrin Noone discussed their day centre research projects at the Forum
At the Annual Conference of the British Society of Gerontology 2023
King's researchers were a strong presence at this year's conference at UEA
Exploring local adult social care evidence needs
Unit researchers a strong presence at an event that employed World Café methodology
Events
Day Centre Research Forum - April 2024
Day centres for older people
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum - June 2022
Service re-design: an in-depth case study
Please note: this event has passed.
Older People’s Health & Social Care Conference 2022
14th annual joint conference of NIHR Policy Research Unit in Health and Social Care Workforce
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Diverse day centre target users and programming.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Adapting day care services during COVID-19.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Social enterprise in adult day care. Gauging the quality of the care experience.
Please note: this event has passed.
Day Centre Research Forum
Outcomes for older people attending day centres.
Please note: this event has passed.